SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Covidien (NYSE: COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced the launch of the first non-absorbable, uni-directional barbed suture, part of its family of V-Loc™ wound closure devices. The V-Loc PBT (Polybutester) non-absorbable wound closure device allows surgeons to securely close incisions without the need to tie knots. Non-absorbable sutures are used to permanently close internal and external wounds. The V-Loc PBT joins the V-Loc 90 and V-Loc 180 absorbable wound closure devices currently available to healthcare professionals.